2012 Ford B Max — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 18,779 MOT tests, the 2012 Ford B Max recorded a 78.9% pass rate. That is 1.6 percentage points better than MPVs of a similar age, which fail at 22.7%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (11.6%) and suspension (9.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are stop lamp, coil spring and ball joint — stop lamp alone was recorded 1,241 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 25.5% versus 12.1%.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 4.4pp more often than petrol ones (24.3% vs 20.0%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 27.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 19.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 23.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.6% | 2,185 |
| 2 | Suspension | 9.9% | 1,862 |
| 3 | Tyres | 5.4% | 1,010 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.8% | 714 |
| 5 | Brakes | 3.1% | 574 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.5% | 468 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stop lamp | 1,241 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 1,010 |
| 3 | Ball joint | 862 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 631 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 528 |
| 6 | Wipers | 458 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 27.8% | 5,219 |
| 2 | Suspension | 18.2% | 3,421 |
| 3 | Brakes | 17.7% | 3,324 |
| 4 | Other defects | 11.0% | 2,063 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 4.7% | 881 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.5% | 842 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 1,432 | 12.1% |
| 30-60k | 7,131 | 17.3% |
| 60-90k | 6,756 | 24.1% |
| 90-120k | 2,669 | 27.2% |
| 120-150k | 586 | 25.8% |
| 150k+ | 149 | 25.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 13,883 | 20.0% |
| Diesel | 4,896 | 24.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,750 | 19.0% |
| 2022 | 3,752 | 19.4% |
| 2023 | 3,812 | 21.9% |
| 2024 | 3,784 | 22.0% |
| 2025 | 3,681 | 23.3% |
What to check before buying a 2012 B Max
On a 2012 B Max, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 11.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (11.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (9.9% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Tyres (5.4% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2012 Ford B Maxs pass their MOT?
78.9% of the 18,779 2012 Ford B Max MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 21.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Ford B Max?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.6% of tests, followed by suspension (9.9%).
Does the 2012 B Max get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.1% in the 0-30k band to 25.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 18,779 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.